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BEKBEKIDACE.E. 



1. BERBEBIS (Barberry). 



1. B. vulgdris (Common Barberry). The only British 

 species. A pretty shrub, not uncommon in woods and 

 hedges ; remarkable for the light colour of its bark, 

 which is yellow within, and for its 3 -forked spines. 

 The flowers are yellow, and grow in drooping clusters ; 

 the filaments are elastic and irritable, so that when 

 touched ever so lightly by the legs of an insect,, or by 

 any other small body, they spring forward and close on 

 the pistil ; after some time, they slowly recover their 

 original position. The berries are oblong, red when 

 ripe, and gratefully acid. The shrub is often rooted out 

 by farmers, on account of an erroneous opinion that it 

 is liable to produce rust in wheat. Fl. June. Shrub. 



2. EPIMEDIUM (Barrenwort}. 



1. E. alpmum (Alpine Barrenwort). The only spe- 

 cies found in Britain ; occurring here and there in 

 mountainous woods in some parts of Scotland and the 

 north of England, but not considered to be indigenous. 



